Siddique Malik shares his thoughts on running for Ky. state Senate as a Muslim

Current state Rep. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, is running against Democrat Siddique Malik, a Muslim who immigrated from Pakistan 40 years ago at the age of 18, to represent the 36th Senate District on Louisville’s east side.

Malik has only put together $1,100 to run for the seat vacated by Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, who is pursuing a Louisville Metro Council position. Adams has raised more than $80,000 for the election.

While there is a funding disparity, Malik is holding out hope for what would amount to a historic Election Day. If elected, he would be the first Muslim to hold office in the state Senate.

However, religion won’t be the largest divide he has to face in the election, Malik says the partisan makeup of the district could work against him. There are 1,000 more Republicans registered in the district than Democrats, but according to October voter registration statistics with the secretary of state’s office there are more than 6,000 people in the district registered as “other.”

Watch the interview below to hear Malik’s story and his ideas for issues facing the state, including tax reform, pension reform and education.

About Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics, the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like the connection between the high profile Steubenville, Ohio rape and a Kentucky hacker whose push for further investigation could put him in federal prison. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickStorm_cn2. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.